Westbound MILW 261 makes like a Hiawatha on jointed rail over the C&M sub 65.5 miles north of Chicago.

Portable strobelight catches the engineer's side of the 261 as the Cedar Rapids sits in the background.

Milw 261 About to cross over at Lake just South of Milwaukee WI on its dinner train run between Milwaukee and Sturtevant WI

On the outside, looking in.

Steam returns to Milwaukee. The 261 slumbers with a hint of twilight, and a healthy dose of Lumedyne.

The Milwaukee Road 261 pauses at the Dells.

Northern at speed. A few miles of parallel highway gave photo charter participants a chance to get pace shots as Milwaukee Road 261 headed west to the next photo location.

261 steams westbound through Kent, destined for Chicago.

It's a shame that VN hasn't aged as gracefully as the majestic 261.

Everyone run! A herd of cows run away from the steel giant roaring past their grazing area.

MILW 261 and consist continue west towards Glencoe as the sun sets on the last runby of the day.

A look inside the cab of the infamous MILW 261. Thanks to Joe LeMay, who watched my stuff and loaned me his bike so that I might go see 261 before our Metra train left.

Home is where the hearth is.

Fare thee well, Hiawatha... fare thee well. A special thanks to Steve Sandburg and crew for keeping the essence of the Milwaukee Road alive. A favorite from the excursion sponsored by Lerro Prod... (more)

With such a glorious sky and a magnificent plume, I decided low to the ground was the preferred angle this late Friday evening on the former Milwaukee main.